really takes you back to Bloomington — even for a season — we’ll miss you. But in the meantime, I need a director by Monday. Just so you know.”
A smile warmed Bailey’s heart. “It would be an honor.” So many memories were tied up with the Bloomington theater and her time performing with CKT. Her and Connor auditioning for one play after another and Katy directing them, like that chapter in their lives would never end. But the one thing she couldn’t do was rush into taking the position, thinking that just because the opportunity came along it was God’s plan for her life. Instead she would take her time … talk to Brandon and pray. Maybe then the answers would be clearer.
Bailey grabbed her purse and gave Katy another quick hug. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“You’re meeting him?”
“If I can use your car again, yes.” She breathed in deep, steadying herself. “Pray for us.”
B AILEY CALLED HIM ON THE WAY to Will Rogers State Beach,where she’d read the script and talked to her mom just the day before. “I’m on my way.”
“Okay.” Brandon hesitated. “You sound upset.”
“I’m sorry.” Bailey tightened her hand on the wheel. “I’ve been talking to Katy. About LA and Bloomington.” She was quiet for a moment. “I have a lot on my mind.”
“Hmmm.” Concern weighed heavy in his tone. “Should I be worried?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure about anything.” She sighed. “I just need to see you, that’s all.”
Twenty minutes of traffic later, Bailey pulled into the Will Rogers parking lot and saw Brandon’s car parked close to the sand. His was the only one in the lot.
They were alone for now. Somehow the paparazzi must have missed him, or maybe they couldn’t be bothered to hunt down celebrities at midday.
Thank you, God. We need this … please, give me wisdom, help us both hear Your voice
.
She parked next to his newly leased gray BMW, the latest in a series of vehicles he rotated through in an attempt to confuse the paparazzi. Her chest felt too tight to breathe deeply, so she didn’t try. Instead she grabbed two water bottles from the backseat and stepped out of the car. The smell of saltwater was rich in the afternoon air, the sunshine on her shoulders warmer than it had been since last fall.
A strong wind blew off the Pacific, and Bailey shaded her eyes as she scanned the beach. She didn’t see him at first, but then she spotted him on the lifeguard tower. He was standing at the railing, staring out at the water. His body language told her that he was deep in thought, as if maybe he had an idea about why she wanted to meet, how she was feeling unsure about staying in Los Angeles.
She set out across the sand, glad when the wind let up a little. He seemed to sense her presence, because he turned her direction when she was only part way to him. Without hesitating, he starteddown the stairs toward her. He stopped when they were a few feet apart, lost in her eyes. He looked broken, terrified of whatever she had come here to tell him. Their last conversation must’ve really made him think. But in a move that was classic Brandon, he smiled and seemed to force himself to let go of his fears. Then he pulled her into a hug that lasted a long time. Warm in his arms, Bailey doubted herself more than she had all week.
“This must be serious,” he slid his face alongside hers, their cheeks brushing lightly together. He kissed her slowly, with a desperation she’d never seen in him. “Everything’s okay, baby.” He searched her face. “It is.”
She allowed herself to live in his eyes for a long moment, but just when she was going to tell him about her thoughts of maybe returning to Bloomington, she heard the sound of cars screeching into the parking lot. “No!” She grabbed his arm and together they ran for their cars. “Why does this always happen?”
Brandon took the lead and kept to her pace. By the time they reached their cars, ten yards away the
A smile warmed Bailey’s heart. “It would be an honor.” So many memories were tied up with the Bloomington theater and her time performing with CKT. Her and Connor auditioning for one play after another and Katy directing them, like that chapter in their lives would never end. But the one thing she couldn’t do was rush into taking the position, thinking that just because the opportunity came along it was God’s plan for her life. Instead she would take her time … talk to Brandon and pray. Maybe then the answers would be clearer.
Bailey grabbed her purse and gave Katy another quick hug. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“You’re meeting him?”
“If I can use your car again, yes.” She breathed in deep, steadying herself. “Pray for us.”
B AILEY CALLED HIM ON THE WAY to Will Rogers State Beach,where she’d read the script and talked to her mom just the day before. “I’m on my way.”
“Okay.” Brandon hesitated. “You sound upset.”
“I’m sorry.” Bailey tightened her hand on the wheel. “I’ve been talking to Katy. About LA and Bloomington.” She was quiet for a moment. “I have a lot on my mind.”
“Hmmm.” Concern weighed heavy in his tone. “Should I be worried?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure about anything.” She sighed. “I just need to see you, that’s all.”
Twenty minutes of traffic later, Bailey pulled into the Will Rogers parking lot and saw Brandon’s car parked close to the sand. His was the only one in the lot.
They were alone for now. Somehow the paparazzi must have missed him, or maybe they couldn’t be bothered to hunt down celebrities at midday.
Thank you, God. We need this … please, give me wisdom, help us both hear Your voice
.
She parked next to his newly leased gray BMW, the latest in a series of vehicles he rotated through in an attempt to confuse the paparazzi. Her chest felt too tight to breathe deeply, so she didn’t try. Instead she grabbed two water bottles from the backseat and stepped out of the car. The smell of saltwater was rich in the afternoon air, the sunshine on her shoulders warmer than it had been since last fall.
A strong wind blew off the Pacific, and Bailey shaded her eyes as she scanned the beach. She didn’t see him at first, but then she spotted him on the lifeguard tower. He was standing at the railing, staring out at the water. His body language told her that he was deep in thought, as if maybe he had an idea about why she wanted to meet, how she was feeling unsure about staying in Los Angeles.
She set out across the sand, glad when the wind let up a little. He seemed to sense her presence, because he turned her direction when she was only part way to him. Without hesitating, he starteddown the stairs toward her. He stopped when they were a few feet apart, lost in her eyes. He looked broken, terrified of whatever she had come here to tell him. Their last conversation must’ve really made him think. But in a move that was classic Brandon, he smiled and seemed to force himself to let go of his fears. Then he pulled her into a hug that lasted a long time. Warm in his arms, Bailey doubted herself more than she had all week.
“This must be serious,” he slid his face alongside hers, their cheeks brushing lightly together. He kissed her slowly, with a desperation she’d never seen in him. “Everything’s okay, baby.” He searched her face. “It is.”
She allowed herself to live in his eyes for a long moment, but just when she was going to tell him about her thoughts of maybe returning to Bloomington, she heard the sound of cars screeching into the parking lot. “No!” She grabbed his arm and together they ran for their cars. “Why does this always happen?”
Brandon took the lead and kept to her pace. By the time they reached their cars, ten yards away the
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